Major retailers have hailed the 22nd edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) which saw six weeks of events and over 4,000 offers and promotions in malls across the city.
Dubai’s key retail partners have commended the success of the festival in attracting increased visitors to the emirate over the summer season, resulting in greater spend.
DSS is developed by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), in conjunction with the private sector and retail partners, to enhance Dubai’s position as the leading shopping destination for tourists and residents during the summer months.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Calendar (DFRE), said: “Dubai Summer Surprises has once again elevated the city of Dubai as a must-visit destination during the summer period, and we are incredibly grateful to have received such strong support from our strategic partners and sponsors in delivering such a successful festival.”
What the retailers thought of DSS
Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, said: “Dubai Summer Surprises is a great initiative which encourages visitors to shop and we are pleased that we have seen a positive response and achieved sales growth. This is a great indication that successful events such as the Dubai Summer Surprises, which attracts visitors to Dubai, have a positive impact on the retail sector.”
Natalie Bogdanova, chief operating officer, Emaar Malls said: “The 22nd edition of Dubai Summer Surprises 2019 received an overwhelming response across all Emaar Malls assets from residents and tourists alike. Our malls witnessed robust activity with visitors making the most of the summer extravaganza.
“Dubai Summer Surprises is a significant contributor of Dubai’s retail and tourism economy and each year we strive to bring new retail and entertainment offerings to make the festival memorable for families. Our activities complement the vision of the leadership to establish Dubai as a year-round tourist destination.”
Omar Khoory, managing director, Nakheel Malls, said: “Year after year, Dubai Summer Surprises delivers an unrivalled retail experience. We had a tremendously successful DSS 2019, with an excellent response to our activities and attractions at Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart and The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah, with superb entertainment and promotions delighting the residents and tourists who visited our malls during the six-week festival.”
Hussain Moosa, director for Mall of the Emirates at Majid Al Futtaim – Properties, said: “DSS has been a phenomenal success for Majid Al Futtaim’s malls this year. The positive feedback from our shoppers, participating retailers, and other stakeholders about DSS 2019 is testament to the consolidated efforts of the DFRE across Dubai and the exceptional shopping experiences and initiatives offered by our partners during this period.”
Steven Cleaver, director of shopping centres at Al-Futtaim, said: “Creating new experiences for our shoppers is at the core of our business at Al-Futtaim Malls… Overall, we have witnessed a 9 percent increase in footfall to the mall compared to last year and saw the highest number of entries for our shop & win as of yet. This is a huge success for us and truly sets the bar for the years to come.”
Nisreen Boustani, PR & corporate communications manager of Mercato and Town Centre Jumeriah said: “We have noticed over 25 percent increase in the mall’s sale figures and footfall during DSS; Dubai Summer Surprises is an important part of the tourism strategy.”
Mohammad A Baker, deputy chairman and CEO of Gulf Marketing Group, said: “The extensive collaboration between DFRE and the private sector, complemented by the injection of new ideas and creative elements into DSS this year, were important factors in our results. With the start of Expo 2020 also on the horizon, we believe Dubai’s retail market is set for a continued uplift as one of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations.”
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